The Glide starts us off for a new season...

Finally the season starts tonight…predictions? Rafael Araufo for MVP and the LA Clippers for NBA champion…hey anything can happen…

Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria has revealed that she has a tattoo of Spurs PG Tony Parker’s initials: “You can see all of my tatts,” she said” but the one that has Tony’s initials on it is only seen by him…I’m not saying where it is, but let’s just say he gets to view it on a regular basis…” Oh my goodness…ummm I’ve got to go…

Rookie Andrew Bogut is expected to start for Milwaukee on Tuesday night when the Bucks visit Philadelphia. The 7-foot Australian who played at the University of Utah likely will start at forward in place of Joe Smith, who is out with an injured knee, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported on its Web site. "We probably will start Andrew," Bucks coach Terry Stotts told the Journal-Sentinel on Monday. "There's a possibility of starting Toni [Kukoc]."

Good for the Bucks if you ask me…Doug Collins reportedly turned down the Bucks head coaching (and GM) jobbefor they gave it to current coach Terry Stotts…

Cash to go…Wizards signed SG/SF Caron Butler to a 5 year $46 million extension…Warriors signed SF Mike Dunleavy to a 5 year $44 million extension…

1) Randy Hill of Foxsports.com with his fearless and funny predictions:

Not your run-of-the-mill NBA predictions

Fashion police officers have been advised to use excessive force. High school players are preparing themselves for one shining moment and one shining moment only. Phil and Kobe now insist they might get along swimmingly if not required to Shaq up. Ron Artest still has the meds lodged beneath his tongue. And Larry Brown has logged off of Monster.com. Can you smell the shot-distribution anarchy brewing in Miami? Well, it must be time for the NBA to convene another irregular season. By law, it also must be time for my prediction column. But this will be no traditional prediction piece. Who cares if my forecast bestows divisional glory on the Nets, Pacers, Heat, Nuggets, Spurs and, uh, Lakers (gimme some of that Zen Kool-Aid)? Not you. Instead, you prefer insight regarding specific conditions that may affect your favorite teams, coaches and players.

Away we go:

The crisis of depth experienced by the Wizards and coach Eddie Jordan lingers after President Bush fails to make any usable suggestions regarding the Washington bench.

By late December, Brown becomes the first NBA coach to demand a trade ... of himself.

Canadian customs agents recoil in embarrassment after mistaking Phoenix Suns point guard Steve Nash for Alanis Morissette.

The Atlanta Hawks become the darlings of NBA-affiliated computer nerds by virtue of employing five card-carrying small forwards. Based on advanced math, the eggheads determine that 5x3 = 15 Hawks victories.

Based on the anti-bling provision in the league's dress code, a player is suspended for smiling.

The defensive efforts of Boston Celtics guard Dan Dickau are rewarded with a toll both named in Dickau's honor on the Mass Turnpike.

A Detroit Pistons' rout of the Milwaukee Bucks fails to alienate an overflow crowd that waits patiently for the Darko Milicic-Andrew Bogut garbage-time showdown.

Despite a slow start, Bryant and Jackson attempt to salvage the L.A. Lakers revival by agreeing to meet each other halfway. In effort to see things from the converse perspective, Kobe begins practicing yoga and Phil pretends he's forgotten the triangle offense.

Allen Iverson is dismayed to learn that a three-piece suit did not earn its name by having sufficient pocket space for three guns.

Miami Heat center Shaquille O'Neal arrests teammates Jason Williams and Antonie Walker before confiscating the game ball.

To prevent another brawl co-starring the Indiana Pacers, The Palace at Auburn Hills packages all concession-stand beverages in the same pouches used by Carpi Sun.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar flourishes as a special assistant coach for the Lakers. Kareem's impact and influence is realized when 18-year-old rookie center Andrew Bynum begins snubbing reporters.

Phoenix Suns fans are reminded that powerhouse forward Amare Stoudemire will not return to active duty until he's 110 percent healthy. After checking with mathematics and semantics experts, NBA officials interpret this as Amare's retirement notice.

When it's pointed out that some of his Nike loot is running low, third-year Cleveland Cavalier LeBron James finally cashes his first NBA pay check.

Tragedy arrives in Miami when a courtside fan is killed during a free-throw attempt by O'Neal. For the record, the fan was sitting directly behind the Heat bench.

When two players in the minors are booked for crimes in separate incidents, the NBA changes the name of its experimental enterprise to the Arrested Development League.

Glee is experienced on TNT's studio-show set when a personal trainer — after months of searching — finds Charles Barkley's core.

Commissioner David Stern announces that funds accumulated through the fining of Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban will be used to finance NBA Europe.

Denver Nuggets coach George Karl admits he no longer minds when someone notices his resemblance to actor John Lithgow.

Instead of approving the format and name change of his ESPN2 talk show from Quite Frankly to Not Quite, Stephen A. Smith accepts a job with the Philadelphia 76ers. The Sixers then announce they've hired Stephen A. to talk when an opposition player is shooting a free throw.

Thanks to the 2005 NBA draft, university of North Carolina coach Roy Williams is unable to weep during Senior Day 2006 at Chapel Hill.

In an effort to lead the league in offensive rebounding, Chicago Bulls center Tyson Chandler vows to take more shots.

L.A. Clippers sophomore Shaun Livingston makes a speedier-than-expected recovery from back problems when a local barber unwittingly cuts off too much of the point guard's hair.

After considerable coaching from Lawrence Frank, New Jersey Nets forward Vince Carter finally learns the difference between a good shot and a bad shot. Then Vince decides he doesn't care.

Houston Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy admits recommending the acquisition of And1 Mixed Tape Tour alum Rafer "Skip To My Lou" Alston just to hear the team's PA announcer shout, "Oh, Baby!"

The Boston Celtics' youth movement inspires a nickname change for their embattled coach, who will be referred to as Old Man Rivers.

With three rookies on the New York Knicks' roster, Larry Brown hires Bob Vila to renovate his doghouse.

League officials begin having second thoughts in regard to making the NBA draft off limits to high school players, such as 7-foot backboard terror Greg Oden. In an effort to circumvent itself, the league grants Ohio State an expansion franchise.

2) Marty Burns of Si.com with his pre-season power rankings:

NBA Power Rankings

1 -- San Antonio Spurs The defending champs return all of their key players from last year's team, and they've added Michael Finley, Nick Van Exel and Fabricio Oberto to their bench. On paper, they look like a safe bet to make it two straight NBA titles and four in eight years.

2 -- Miami Heat Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade made it within a game of the Finals a year ago, and now they have a new supporting cast in Jason Williams, James Posey, Antoine Walker and Gary Payton. But can coach Stan Van Gundy keep them all happy?

3 -- Detroit Pistons With Flip Saunders in to replace Larry Brown, the two-time defending Eastern champs won't have to worry about a dropoff in Xs and Os. Their veteran starting unit, led by free agent-to-be Ben Wallace, will make them dangerous once again come playoff time.
4 -- Phoenix Suns Steve Nash and Shawn Marion can keep them afloat until forward/center Amaré Stoudemire (knee surgery) returns sometime after the All-Star break. But if Stoudemire doesn't come back at full strength, this Phoenix won't rise from the ashes.

5 -- Houston Rockets With Tracy McGrady to lead the way and a rested Yao Ming to patrol the middle, they have a 1-2 punch to rival any in the league. Meanwhile, Stromile Swift and Derek Anderson bring some much-needed depth.

6 -- Indiana Pacers Ron Artest is back in the lineup, and Stephen Jackson is ready to slide into the retired Reggie Miller's spot at shooting guard. With Jermaine O'Neal down low and Rick Carlisle calling the shots, look for them to set the pace in the East.

7 -- Denver Nuggets After finishing the season on a 25-4 run, coach George Karl has them poised to challenge San Antonio in the West. But they will need Marcus Camby to stay healthy and Voshon Lenard to return to form at shooting guard.

8 -- Dallas Mavericks They have a new defensive look under coach Avery Johnson, but they're still capable of scoring points. If Erick Dampier can provide consistent help down low for Dirk Nowitzki, they, too, could threaten the Spurs.

9 -- Sacramento Kings With Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Bonzi Wells joining Brad Miller, Peja Stojakovic and Mike Bibby, they boast one of the NBA's best starting units. But can they rebound and defend the paint?

10 -- New Jersey Nets Jason Kidd, Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter give them an All-Star perimeter trio. With Nenad Krstic, Cliff Robinson, Marc Jackson and Jason Collins in the middle, they will rule the Atlantic.

11 -- Seattle SuperSonics New coach Bob Weiss has the pieces in Ray Allen , Rashard Lewis, Vladimir Radmanovic, Luke Ridnour, Reggie Evans, Danny Fortson and Nick Collison. But can they survive playing Small Ball all season?

12 -- Cleveland Cavaliers After not making the playoffs in his first two years, LeBron James isn't going to be denied this time around. Newcomers Donyell Marshall, Larry Hughes and Damon Jones will provide him the help he needs.

13 -- Milwaukee Bucks They re-signed Michael Redd, added Bobby Simmons, drafted Andrew Bogut, traded for Jamaal Magloire and got back point guard T.J. Ford. It should be enough to get them back into the playoffs after missing out last year.

14 -- Washington Wizards Antonio Daniels and Caron Butler will have to fill the void left by Hughes' departure to the Cavs, but they are still solid. Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison and Brendan Haywood comprise a quality core.

15 -- Utah Jazz Andrei Kirilenko and Carlos Boozer are healthy again, and Mehmet Okur should be more comfortable with a year under his belt in Salt Lake City. The key will be how quickly rookie point guard Deron Williams can pick up Jerry Sloan's system.

16 -- New York Knicks Larry Brown has a history of quick turnarounds, and he's got some talent in Stephon Marbury, Quentin Richardson and Eddy Curry. It might take time, but they should be much better defensively by season's end.

17 -- Los Angeles Lakers Phil Jackson is back, and Kobe Bryant is ready to make a run at MVP. But Kwame Brown, Slava Medvedenko and Chris Mihm aren't going to make the Zen Master forget about You Know Who in the middle.

18 -- Philadelphia 76ers With Allen Iverson, Chris Webber, Andre Iguodala and Samuel Dalembert, they have the talent to challenge for the Atlantic title. But can the aging Iverson and Webber stay healthy all season?

19 -- Chicago Bulls Even before losing Eddy Curry they were likely to take a step back this season because they wouldn't be able to sneak up on foes. Coach Scott Skiles will keep them competitive, but the lack of a quality center could spell trouble.

20 -- Memphis Grizzlies Mike Fratello has a brand new look on the perimeter with Damon Stoudamire, Bobby Jackson and Eddie Jones. If Pau Gasol can get the job done inside, they might notch a third straight playoff berth in the West.

21 -- Minnesota Timberwolves Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell are gone, replaced by Marko Jaric and rookie Rashad McCants. Unfortunately, Kevin Garnett and Wally Szczerbiak are going to need more than that to get back to the playoffs.

22 -- Golden State Warriors After a 14-4 finish to the 2004-05 season, they're talking about ending the franchise's NBA-high 11-year playoff drought. That might be optimistic, but Baron Davis and Jason Richardson will bring excitement to the Bay Area.

23 -- Boston Celtics They have some nice young talent in the likes of Al Jefferson, Tony Allen, and Delonte West, but they need to grow up in a hurry. If not, Paul Pierce could be traded at midseason.

24 -- Orlando Magic With Steve Francis, Dwight Howard, Grant Hill and Hedo Turkoglu, they have the talent to get back to the playoffs. But Hill's history of injuries and the Magic's lack of defense could be trouble.

25 -- Los Angeles Clippers After finishing ahead of the Lakers in '04-05, they will probably find themselves L.A.'s "other" team once again. Sam Cassell and Cuttino Mobley will make it interesting, but Elton Brand deserves better.

26 -- Toronto Raptors GM Rob Babcock already has admitted they might not win as many games as they did a year ago. At least rookies Charlie Villanueva, Joey Graham and Jose Calderon will give them some hope for the future.

27 -- Portland Trail Blazers New coach Nate McMillan has some intriguing young talent in the likes of Sebastian Telfair, Travis Outlaw and Martell Webster, but it's going to take time. Zach Randolph also must recover from knee surgery.

28 -- Atlanta Hawks Can Joe Johnson handle the point guard duties? Can Josh Smith do more than dunk? Is rookie Marvin Williams ready to play? Will Al Harrington still be around after the trade deadline? Too many questions. Not enough answers.

29 -- Charlotte Bobcats After a fairly successful debut season, Emeka Okafor and the expansion 'Cats will take another baby-step forward. With former Tar Heels Raymond Felton and Sean May on the roster, they should sell a few tickets, too.

30 -- New Orleans Hornets After all they've been through with Hurricane Katrina, we wish we could rate them higher. At least Chris Paul, J.R. Smith and Desmond Mason will throw down some high-flying jams for the folks in Okla. City.

3) Chris Sheridan of ESPN.com with his predictions:

Spurs lookin' good, but it's a long way 'til June

It's been two months since Magic Johnson declared, "It's over," and now, finally, it begins. The San Antonio Spurs get their championship rings Tuesday night before starting their march toward a repeat, taking on the Denver Nuggets in one of four opening-night games. Yes, folks, nothing but a repeat is in store, and Magic isn't the only one who says so. In a poll of 12 NBA experts here at ESPN -- yes, we have a dozen experts on the payroll (What? Too many?) -- every single one chose San Antonio to become the NBA's first repeat champion in four years. All that brainpower could never be wrong, right? Well, it's a 30-team league, and 29 of those teams would probably be best served by taking exception. A few of them, to be sure, actually have a fighting chance. "We believe, honestly, that there are five, six, seven other teams that have just as much of a chance to win the championship as much as we do. The fact that we're favored is pretty meaningless to us," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. What Pop neglected to mention was that a majority of those so-called contenders reside in the Eastern Conference. So who exactly was Pop talking about? We'll make that Question 1 as we explore the top 10 questions of the upcoming season:

Q: Who but the Spurs might win it all?

A: At first glance, it seemed each of the teams thought to represent the top competition in the West had taken a serious hit. With Phoenix losing three-fifths of its starting five (Amare Stoudemire is out four months after microfracture surgery on his knee, and Joe Johnson and Quentin Richardson were traded), the team that led the NBA last season with 62 victories is a shell of its former self. So there's no chance Pop was talking about the Suns, was there? But aside from the Suns ... Did Dallas (Michael Finley, Shawn Bradley) and Houston (Bob Sura) really lose that much? The Mavericks will have depth (Jerry Stackhouse, Marquis Daniels, Keith Van Horn and Devin Harris coming off the bench) to match anyone in the conference except the Spurs. Meanwhile, the Rockets redid their backcourt, adding Rafer Alston and Derek Anderson, and will bring Stromile Swift, David Wesley, Jon Barry and Dikembe Mutombo off the bench. The Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers and Miami Heat are everyone's top three in the East, but the New Jersey Nets have championship-caliber talent and a deeper bench than a year ago, while the Cleveland Cavaliers provided enough experienced, complementary pieces (Larry Hughes, Donyell Marshall, Damon Jones) to LeBron James to at least be considered a legitimate contender to break into the East's top four. Not sure if our list matches Popovich's, but it has to be close.

Q: Where will things go sour first?

A: It's too easy to say Oklahoma City, where the Hornets will struggle to win 10 games. That's like saying the Spurs will be good. But check out central Florida, where things were going south fairly precipitously for the Orlando Magic at the end of last season, and it's hard to see any way Brian Hill can make a quick fix after the team made what amounted to zero significant moves in the offseason. The Magic play eight of their first 12, and 18 of their first 27, at home, and it'll be a long, slow trip through the final four months of the season if Steve Francis, Dwight Howard and their supporting cast don't start strong.

Q: So Brian Hill is the favorite to be the first coach fired?

A: No. Not when they just brought him back. The hot seat will belong to Rick Adelman of Sacramento if Mike Bibby and Peja Stojakovic's preseason shooting woes presage what's ahead for the Kings, who should be the class of a weak division. If they aren't in first place a month from now, look for the Maloofs to jettison the only coach the franchise has had for seven-plus seasons. They would have axed Adelman over the summer if Phil Jackson had been interested. If Adelman isn't the first to go, it might just be Toronto's Sam Mitchell or the Hornets' Byron Scott. The Hornets have already fired just about everyone else.

Q: Which teams are being overlooked?

A: In the West, there's been so much speculative talk about the possible rise of the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers that everyone seems to be ignoring the Memphis Grizzlies, whose additions of Eddie Jones, Damon Stoudamire and Bobby Jackson bring a veteran maturity that was lacking the past two years as the Grizz were swept out of the first round. Shane Battier keeps getting better, and Pau Gasol was super sharp in the preseason. "I think we accomplished what we wanted to. The next step for this franchise is to get back [to the playoffs], but then to win," coach Mike Fratello said. In the East, plenty of folks are already flip-flopping on their gloomy preseason predictions for the Milwaukee Bucks, who now have a big lineup playing for a coach who expected to play small ball.

Q: On the flip side, which teams are being overrated?

A: At a time of the year when optimism flows like jump shots from Ricky Davis' right hand, it's hard to say anyone is being out-and-out overrated.

But expectations might have raised perhaps a little too high in Golden State and Denver, while Washington won't have an easy time getting back to the second round. New York Knicks fans truly believe Larry Brown can get them the eighth seed, but it'll be a long climb out of a deep hole if New York's start is as bad as Brown expects.
Q: Which rookies will be difference-makers?

A: No. 1 pick Andrew Bogut won't shoulder the whole load now that Jamaal Magloire is aboard in Milwaukee, but that should only help Bogut as he learns the NBA ropes. Joey Graham has made the starting lineup in Toronto, and Charlie Villanueva had a strong enough preseason to take some of the heat off Raptors GM Rob Babcock for selecting him. Deron Williams should be the starting point guard in Utah before too long. Chris Paul won't have to wait to take over playmaking duties for the Hornets, and Johan Petro of France has won the starting center spot in Seattle. One experienced rookie to keep an eye on is Sarunas Jasikevicius. Indiana's coaching staff already considers him to be the team's best pure shooter. He was the MVP of the last two Euroleague Final Fours with Maccabi Tel Aviv, and Jasikevicius (pronounced yah-sa-KEV-uh-chiss) knocked down four 3-pointers against Stephon Marbury in the Olympics when Lithuania handed the United States one of its three defeats.

Q: What about trades? Any big names going to change teams?

A: Right now, all eyes are on Paul Pierce of the Celtics as Boston transitions to a youth movement, but Danny Ainge is having a hard time finding a decent offer as opposing GMs try to pull off the type of steal Rod Thorn made for New Jersey last year when he acquired Vince Carter. If things start extra slowly in New York, don't be shocked if Larry Brown convinces Isiah Thomas to get rid of Marbury. There's deeper animosity between the two than either would have the public believe. Things also aren't going so swimmingly in Portland between Zach Randolph and new coach Nate McMillan. The Trail Blazers also would be willing to move Ruben Patterson to free up time for Travis Outlaw, and Theo Ratliff is being paid too much ($11.7 over this season and the next two) to be a backup center. Someone in need of size will be willing to take a chance. Denver would deal Nene Hilario if it got a big man and a shooting guard in return, but that'll be hard to pull off with Nene making only $3.04 million.

Q: What's going on in Week 1 that might ratchet up the interest of casual fans?

A: Well, Ron Artest plays in a game that matters for the first time since the Palace Brawl when Indiana opens at Orlando on Wednesday, and it'll be interesting to see how he responds if the league's referees keep Artest on a short leash. Nuggets-Spurs on opening night could be a preview of the Western Conference finals. Phil and Kobe at Denver is the late game of Wednesday night's doubleheader. Larry Brown's home debut is Friday, as is the first Cavs-Spurs game. The Bobcats open their new building Saturday, and Sam Cassell goes against his former Minnesota teammates on Monday.

Q: What about Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson? Can they coexist after what Phil said about Kobe in his book?

A: Both men claim they've put it behind them, though they haven't actually had a discussion about what Jackson wrote. And since one of the things Jackson wrote was that Bryant is a grudge-holder, this thing still has the potential to boil over. Neither is accustomed to prolonged stretches of losing, and both are capable of sending harsh signals to the other through the media. So the over/under on the date of their first feud is Dec. 22.

Q: Anything else worth mentioning?

A: Yeah, the Pistons are even deeper than they were the past two seasons, and maybe most of us -- including the majority of the experts at ESPN -- are overlooking or forgetting exactly how formidable they were the past two seasons.

4) Jack McCallum of Si.com has numerous questions:

The Top Five - Questions abound in East and West as season tips off

There are any number of intriguing questions to ponder as the NBA gets ready to tip-off on Tuesday night, none more obvious than these two:

--If Ron Artest plays an entire season without being suspended, can he take the Indiana Pacers to the NBA Finals?

--On paper, the Miami Heat looks like a good bet to make the Finals, but did they disturb their chemistry by loading up on too much talent?

But for the first five-pack of the season, I don't want to be too obvious, so I'll leave those alone for now. (We'll no doubt be returning to both of them.) It's interesting, though, that two of the most intriguing questions come from the Eastern Conference, which has won only one of the last seven championships and which, of late, has played second banana to the better balanced West. I still think the West is stronger, but the East, with four legit contenders (Detroit, Indiana, Miami and New Jersey) is catching up. Herewith, five opening questions (and some answers) about each conference that are likely to shape the season.

East

1. Which guard will fall out of Larry Brown's favor the quickest in New York: Stephon Marbury, Jamal Crawford or Quentin Richardson? No matter who it is, I'm pretty sure it won't be rookie Nate Robinson, whose game Brown appears to love, or Anfernee Hardaway, whom Brown will recruit as the veteran statesman to support him in the locker room.

2. Did Joe Johnson make the right move by spurning the Phoenix Suns for the Atlanta Hawks? Put it another way: Is it more fun to get 20 a game, possibly make the All-Star team and win 25 games? Or is the greater joy getting 14 or 15 a game, being overshadowed by three teammates and winning 50 games? The former is what will likely happen in Atlanta; the latter is what would've happened in Phoenix.

3. Who will make more news in Cleveland -- LeBron James or flashy new owner, Dan Gilbert? If it's Gilbert, the Cavs will be in trouble; if it's James, I think they have a chance to finish as high as third in the conference.

4. Are three really good players enough to take you to the Finals? Through the prism of the New Jersey Nets we will get to examine that question this season. I look at the Nets' roster and see Jason Kidd, Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson. That's all I see. I know Jason Collins is a capable, won't-hurt-you type of center and 16-year veteran Cliff Robinson is going to win a couple of games for you. But this is not a strong team top to bottom. Yet I do think they will challenge for the top spot in the East.
5. Who will stage the East's first on-court work stoppage if he is charged with violating the NBA's new dress code -- James, Philadelphia's Allen Iverson or Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal? My guess? O'Neal.

West

1. Was the love affair between coach George Karl and his Denver Nuggets, which lasted through the final three months of the last regular season and even into a first-round playoff loss to the Spurs, a one-season wonder? Karl is a splendid coach, and the Nuggets are a terrific team, maybe second-best to the Spurs in terms of Western talent. But both Karl and his players are potentially implodable.

2. Will Kevin Garnett rediscover his joy? It was hard to put your finger on exactly what was missing with the 2004 MVP last season. His numbers (22.2 points, 13.5 rebounds) were still outstanding, but he was unquestionably part of the season-long funk from which the T'wolves could not escape. So now he's got a new coach and a new cast around him. With no Latrell Sprewell and no Sam Cassell, the teammates on whom he depended in '04 and on whom he soured last season, the Big Ticket has to come out punching.

3. Can Phil Jackson really count on Kobe Bryant for leadership? I guess this should be included among the most obvious questions, but it goes much deeper than the surface query: Will they get along? My guess is they will get along, provided the Lakers aren't a complete disaster. (I don't think they will be.) Phil will speak glowingly of Kobe's talents, and Kobe will speak glowingly of Phil's coaching acumen. But deep down, will Kobe carry Phil's message in the locker room? The ability to connect with the team's key player -- Michael Jordan in Chicago and Shaquille O'Neal in Los Angeles -- is one of the major reasons Jackson has nine rings.

4. Will Phoenix coach Mike D'Antoni have to make any compromises in his fast-breaking style? The Suns went 6-2 in the preseason, both of their losses coming when they didn't score 100 points. Even when it was announced that fleet center Amaré Stoudemire, Steve Nash's primary finisher in transition, would probably be out until February, D'Antoni insisted that the Suns will try to match last season's output of 110 points. But with key new players (Raja Bell, James Jones and Kurt Thomas) all accustomed to more conservative styles, will the Suns still be burning up the court in January?

5. Who is the odd man -- make it odd men -- out in San Antonio? As I look at the 13-man roster the defending champion Spurs take into the opener against Denver Tuesday night, I see guys who can play. Even the rookie forward from Argentina, Fabricio Oberto, and the probable inactive-list candidate, center Sean Marks. But most coaches like a rotation of nine, tops. Eight is even better. Count these mainstays as locks for playing time: Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Bruce Bowen, Manu Ginobili and Robert Horry. Add a center, probably a time-share between Nazr Mohammed (who had a mediocre preseason) and Rasho Nesterovic. That's seven. So which players among returnees Brent Barry and Beno Udrih and newcomers Nick Van Exel and Michael Finley will be picking splinters out of their butts? That question may not be answered until the playoffs. Chances are, Gregg Popovich will moderate the minutes of all the regulars, while figuring out his best rotations when it counts the most.

5) Mike Kahn of Foxsports.com with his pre-season predictions:

Preseason award predictions

Gregg Popovich has his own definition of a most valuable player. Three NBA titles and three NBA finals MVPs in seven years spell Tim Duncan. "The fortunate thing for us is that it seems that, given enough talent, all pieces fit around Timmy," Popovich said. "He's figured it out. If you look at '99 we played with Avery (Johnson), Jarron Jackson and Mario (Elie) and then he plays with Tony (Parker) and Manu (Ginobili) as rookies in 2003. Then last year was a different team even though Tony and Manu were there. He's playing with Brent Barry, Robert Horry off the bench and Nazr (Mohammed) who got there halfway through the year. "Timmy has an uncanny ability of allowing people to come in and have the pieces fit around him." That explains why, perhaps, in a survey of the 30 NBA general managers by NBA.com, Duncan earned 78 percent of the votes. And while Duncan is a safe and logical preseason pick, he's not ours as we take a not-so conventional look into the crystal ball of the 2005-06 regular season. Not only will we take you to the pinnacle awards presented at the end of every season, but we'll also reveal the bottom of the barrel as we see it. So hang on for an interesting trip filled with perspective you may not have considered as the NBA regular season unfolds next week.

Most valuable player LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers Last season, James, at the age of 20, averaged 27.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and 7.2 assists, joining Oscar Robertson, Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and John Havlicek as the only players in history to reach those lofty numbers in the same season. But there is this creeping suspicion that Shaquille O'Neal is on a mission for the Miami Heat; Duncan is always a top candidate. Kobe Bryant will be a huge factor in the West and so will Tracy McGrady.

Least valuable player Jerome James, New York Knicks Maybe it wasn't fair that everybody out West knew that James' career playoff series against the Sacramento Kings and Brad Miller, who was coming back from a broken leg, was a fluke. But to commit $30 million to a 7-footer with such a tendency to blow up his nickname is "Big Snacks," was a stretch from the very beginning. He'll talk a great game, but give everybody in New York 15 games into the regular season before they realize James is on his own trip and nobody else will tag along.

Coach of the year George Karl, Denver Nuggets Even though Karl picked up the team 42 games into last season, he nearly was worthy of the award last season with their 32-8 finish. The Nuggets may not win the Northwest Division, but they'll be in the thick of the playoff hunt. Keep an eye on what Phil Jackson does with the Lakers, and Flip Saunders transitioning the Detroit Pistons. Rick Carlisle could push the Indiana Pacers to the best record in the East and Larry Brown could change the New York Knicks. Popovich is always worthy, but always worthy, like Duncan, makes it too boring a pick.

First coach fired Sam Mitchell, Toronto Raptors The situation is so volatile with the Raptors fading into oblivion, coupled with Mitchell's mercurial nature, that something major could unsettle this entire season in an instant as they seek to regain the public confidence.

Rookie of the year Chris Paul, New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets They're going to hand him the ball and let him play. Now that Milwaukee has traded for Jamaal Magloire, Andrew Bogut may not get the minutes or opportunities to be as productive as anticipated. Also, consider Sean May, Danny Granger and Deron Williams.

Rookie bust of the year Andrew Bynum, Los Angeles Lakers It's understandable why the Lakers went for the big man long range, but why go for a high school kid when Jackson isn't likely to be coaching long enough to gather the benefit of his growth?

Best sixth man Michael Finley, San Antonio Spurs This was a perfect addition to the Spurs. Fin won't have the same kind of pressure to produce with the Spurs as he did with the Mavericks. Instead, he'll be expected to provide instant offense from the perimeter and run the floor in quick bursts. He'll make them better. Antoine Walker will help the Miami Heat, Chicago's Ben Gordon will be a candidate again, Golden State's Mickeal Pietrus and Denver's Earl Boykins will both be a factor.

Worst starter Adonal Foyle, Golden State Warriors Great guy, decent shot-blocker, fair rebounder and a zero offensively. He's so sluggish on the floor, he appears injured even when he's not. He's very thick and strong and causes problems inside, but he's always erratic.

Best defensive player Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons Big Ben always changes games with his defense. He'll attack ballhandlers with a sudden attack on the perimeter, block shots and steal passes inside and just cause havoc consistently. But Ron Artest is back and will be a defensive force , Bruce Bowen is the best perimeter defender, and Andrei Kirilenko may end up being the best all-around defender of all.

Worst defensive player Jason Williams, Miami Heat It will be interesting to see how Stan Van Gundy and Pat Riley respond to the lack of fundamental defense he will play on the perimeter. There was a reason why the Grizzlies always pulled Williams in the fourth quarter of games, and it wasn't his ballhandling or shooting. He didn't stop the ball and his penchant for steals don't make up for his defensive lapses.

Most improved player Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets With the weight of all the off-season woes in 2004 ancient history, 'Melo has trimmed down, gotten stronger and regained his confidence. He should become an All-Star this season. Also considered are Toronto's Chris Bosh, T.J. Ford back playing at Milwaukee, Portland's Darius Miles and Atlanta's Joe Johnson could become a star.

Most deteriorated player Michael Olowokandi, Minnesota Timberwolves Yes, he really was the No. 1 pick overall in the 1998 draft, although Kandi hasn't averaged as many as 7.0 points or six rebounds in three years. Still just 30, he's only averaged double figures in scoring twice, never reached double figures in rebounding, nor 2.0 blocks in his career. And he's getting worse.

Executive of the year Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs For Pop and R.C. Buford to add Michael Finley and Nick Van Exel to the defending champions just proves they always have their eye on the ball. They have a great feel for the players who fit around Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker and Bruce Bowen. Also in the running are Sacramento's Geoff Petrie, Cleveland's Danny Ferry, Larry Bird at Indiana and New York's Isiah Thomas.

Worst executive Otis Smith and Dave Twardzik, Orlando Magic The twin general managers brought back Brian Hill as coach, then drafted Fran Vasquez from Spain when they didn't even have a clue that he wasn't interested in playing in the United States, which speaks volumes of their blind spots. With Steve Francis, Grant Hill and Dwight Howard to build around, they should be in better shape.

Surprise team Los Angeles Lakers The Lake Show won't dominate the West, but presuming Phil Jackson gets Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom on the same page, maybe, just maybe Kwame Brown turns into a player and Devean George bounces back, they can make the playoffs and be dangerous. Also keep an eye on the Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks.

Disappointing team Boston Celtics They won the Atlantic Division last season, but have virtually no chance at all this time around. It is highly unlikely they make the playoffs with their continued youth movement and lack of point guard.

Who's going to win it? Eastern Conference playoff teams: Indiana, Miami, New Jersey, Detroit and Cleveland. On the bubble: Chicago, Milwaukee, Philadelphia and New York.

Western Conference playoff teams: San Antonio, Sacramento, Denver, Houston and Dallas. On the bubble: Seattle, Phoenix, Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota.

Conference finals: Indiana defeats Miami; San Antonio defeats Sacramento.

NBA champion: Indiana Pacers.

6) Peter Vescey of the New York Post is Crazy:

GREETING THE NEW SEASON

November 1, 2005 -- ACCORDING to column casti gator Frank Drucker's meticulous mayoral poll, by the time the first mandarin orange (NBA ratings are up 18 percent in Asia, by the way) is thrown up this evening, Fernando Ferrer will be trailing Bob Wagner by a full 20 percentage points. The 2005-06 season opens on a solemn chord as the league is still trying to fathom the bewildering death of Hawks center Jason Collier. For the first time in 19 years Reggie Miller isn't part of the Pacers, having retired to the airwaves, from where I'm sure he'll share with TNT's audience all those relevant insights he has kept to himself for almost two decades about opponents, teammates, coaches and referees. Well, maybe the refs, anyway. Allan Houston and Latrell Sprewell, former backcourt Knicks teammates, Derrick Coleman and Kenny Anderson, who played together with the Nets, Ron Mercer, Travis Best, Tractor Traylor and Shawn Bradley are also conspicuous by their absence. What, indeed, was Sprewell (turned 35 Sept. 8) thinking when he turned down the Timberwolves' $21 million, 3-year extension offer a year ago? I've got a meatier question: What in the world was owner Glen Taylor thinking to propose such an extravagant offer? If for no other reason than to put pressure on Isiah Thomas and his $11 million-per savior, Home Town Brown, I'm saying the Knicks, at the very least, should crash the playoff party and win a couple first round games. It's the least they can do considering Camp Cablevision has outspent Mike Bloomberg this season. Brown's carping, grousing, nit-picking, fault-finding and otherwise dissatisfaction have his ordinarily discombobulated players so dumbfounded they're liable to droop out to a 4-15 start. After that they'll either be in therapy on someone else's team (Larry will be looking to revamp the roster two weeks after the trading deadline), or will have learned to tune him out enough to play basketball instinctively the way it's meant to be played. Those able to mentally survive their drill sergeant's negative approach can't help but become stronger. It's like having snake venom regularly injected into your system. If it doesn't kill you eventually you become immune. Forget about his teammates, Stephon Marbury is having trouble making himself better. * No, the Heat can't guard the ball on the perimeter like they did last season and their outside shooting is expected to be a nightly misadventure. On the other hand, when Pat Riley worked under Jerry West, he learned what denigrated players can do for a championship contender. Bob McAdoo and Mychal Thompson had been downgraded from All-Stars to also-rans by the time they joined the Lakers. Both became vital in title runs. Antoine Walker, Jason Williams and James Posey come into Miami with stained reputations, in other words, with something to prove, just the way Riley loves it. Riley operated that way in New York, rescuing Anthony Mason and John Starks from obscurity. Padre Riles now has three more highly motivated pet projects to support Shaq and Dwyane Wade any way they can. * If we can put the hex on Home Town Brown to get the Knicks into playoffs, the same should apply to Phil Jackson's Lakers. When your employer believes you rate $10M per, minor details like overcoming ill-equipped centers and unconfirmed point guards should be a Marina del Rey afternoon breeze. Lamar Odom is every bit as good as Scottie Pippen ever was, Kwame Brown is well worth the 3-year, $25M gamble, and Kobe, about to embark on an MVP type season, is eminently coachable. What more does the Zen Hen need? Well, Jamaal Magloire would've been a nice addition, but the Hornets rejected LA's offer, say sources, of Chris Mihm, Devean George and a No. 1 pick. * From a distance, the Kings appear to have one of the league's most prodigious starting lineups as well as a fine complementary crew waiting on deck. They boast established veterans, a rookie treat in Francisco Garcia and Kevin Martin, one of my favorite players nobody has ever heard of. The arrival of Shareef Abdur-Rahim (deemed physically unfit in New Jersey) and Bonzi Wells provide low post offense to coincide with an already sharp-shooting contingent (Mike Bibby, Peja Stojakovic and Brad Miller) of long distant dialers. Still, Bibby has struggled mightily during the preseason. At 27, his game should be peaking. Instead, judging by his Popeye arms and ink-blotched skin, he spent far too much time last summer in the weight room and tattoo parlor and not enough of it on the court. * You know you've gotten old when you saw Bob Ferry play in college and the NBA, covered him when he was the Bullets' GM, watched his son, Danny, play at Duke, covered him throughout his NBA career and now I'm reduced to calling him for an opinion on the Cavaliers.
Wisely, the rookie GM and rookie coach Mike Brown wanted nothing to do with young players. Following successfully expensive, recruiting missions (Larry Hughes, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Donyell Marshall and Damon Jones) they've assembled a veteran troupe, led by the outlandishly mature LeBron James, two months shy of his 20th birthday. By all accounts, Brown and his franchise player have developed an excellent working relationship as evidenced by James' dedication the defensive end. For that reason I'm projecting the Cavs to legitimately compete with the Pacers and Pistons for the Central Division crown, which should be enough to earn James MVP.